JP2005510179A - System for managing a dedicated application in a device connected to a network, application management method, access terminal, application server, and device for such a system - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention particularly relates to a system for managing a dedicated application in a device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) connected to a network (10). Said system comprises means (38, 40) for detecting the connection of a device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) to a network (10) and a terminal (28) for accessing at least one application server (34). The access terminal (28) is connected to the network (10) and includes means (44) for downloading the application from the application server (34). The application management system triggers a download means (44) for downloading at least one application dedicated to the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) when the device is connected to the network (10). Means (46) is further included.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for managing an application dedicated to a device connected to a network.

  The invention particularly relates to a system as described above comprising means for detecting the connection of a device to a network and an access terminal providing access to at least one application server. The access terminal is connected to the network and has means for downloading an application from the application server.

  The present invention also provides a method of managing a dedicated application for a device connected to a network, an access terminal connected to a network that provides access to at least one application server and is suitable for connecting the device, And a device configured to be connected to an access terminal that provides access to a network and at least one application server connected to at least one other device.

  Such types of application management systems exist in the prior art. For example, the OSGi forum proposes a system that executes a program for recognizing a device when the device is connected to a network and declared to be the device itself. This program refers to a table of correspondence between devices to be connected to the network, and a list of sets of devices, each set associated with a general Java interface. Different devices from the same set, for example, sets of printers manufactured by different manufacturers, have a common Java interface that includes Java methods that provide access to common functions for the printer. Related.

  Next, in this system, the application server can download a dedicated application to the connected device to the access terminal connected to the network, and then download it in a situation where one of the devices connected to the network is used. The application can be executed.

  However, each of the devices connected to the network has its own control interface imposed by the device designer. Furthermore, device specific applications are sometimes executed within the device itself and downloaded to the access terminal as soon as the device is connected to the network. These dedicated applications are executed to allow the system user to connect to the network and control the corresponding device from another device, for example with a display screen.

  However, in all cases, the user must know how to use each device connected to the network before the device can be controlled and used.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that allows the use of dedicated applications for devices connected to a network and devices without forcing the user to know how to use all the devices. It is to improve the shortcomings of the application management system.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises a system for managing a dedicated application for a device connected to a network, the system comprising:
Means for detecting the connection of the device to the network;
An access terminal for accessing at least one application server via an external information transmission network, the access terminal being connected to a network and having means for downloading the application from an application server, wherein the system is connected to the network The apparatus further comprises means for triggering a download means for downloading at least one application dedicated to the apparatus.

  The application management system according to the present invention is used to download a dedicated application from the application server to the device as soon as the device is connected to the network. Thus, a dedicated application is not designed by the device designer, but for example by an independent application provider that allows the application to be made uniform.

The application management system according to the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following features:
At least one application dedicated to the device is a control application that controls the device;
The system comprises a single access portal to different services provided by devices connected to the network, said access portal comprising means for executing a dedicated application for each connected device;
The access portal is accessible from at least one of the devices connected to the network;
The access portal comprises a unified man-machine interface for controlling connected devices and means for incorporating a control application into the man-machine interface;
The system comprises means for detecting disconnection of a device from the network and means for triggering deletion of an application dedicated to the device when the device is disconnected from the network;
The system stores information to establish correspondence between each device connected to the network and a list of applications dedicated to the device, accessible by the access terminal in read mode Comprising:
The list of applications includes, for each application, its universal resource locator, which can be downloaded from the universal resource locator by the access terminal;
The network is a local area network;
The application is accessible by an access terminal via an external information transmission network;
The system includes at least one software bus running on the network that connects devices to the network and to each other.

  The present invention also provides an application management method dedicated to a device connected to the network, the method comprising the step of detecting the connection of the device to the network, wherein at least one dedicated to said device when connected to the network. The method further includes triggering a download by an access terminal that provides access to at least one application server for one application.

The application management method of the present invention may further include one or more of the following features:
The at least one application dedicated to the device is a control application that controls the device, and the method further includes the step of incorporating the control application into a unified man-machine interface that controls devices connected to the network. Is out;
The method includes detecting disconnection of a device from the network and triggering deletion of an application dedicated to the device when the device is disconnected from the network.

  The present invention also provides an access terminal for accessing at least one application server via an external information transmission network, wherein the access terminal is connected to a network configured to connect the device, and an application from the application server. The access terminal further comprises means for triggering download means for downloading at least one application dedicated to the device when the device is connected to the network.

The access terminal of the present invention further comprises any of the following features:
The access terminal comprises means for detecting disconnection of the device from the network and trigger means for triggering deletion of a dedicated application for the device when the device is disconnected from the network;
The access terminal includes an access unit that accesses, in a read mode, a storage unit that stores information for establishing correspondence between each device to be connected to the network and a list of dedicated applications for the device.

  The invention further comprises an application server, the application server comprising a dedicated application for at least one device connected to a network to which an access terminal for accessing the application server is also connected, said application being unified. It is configured to be incorporated into a man-machine interface.

  Finally, the present invention is a network composed of devices and also connected to an access terminal for accessing at least one application server that provides a dedicated application to the target device connected to the network with at least one other device A device configured to be connected to a device, the device displaying a unified man-machine interface including means for incorporating at least one application dedicated to the device when the device is connected to the network Means are provided.

  The apparatus of the present invention may also include the feature that the at least one application is a control application.

  The invention will be better understood with reference to the following description, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  The application management system shown in FIG. 1 includes an IEEE 1394 local area sub-network 12 that supports a HAVi (registered trademark) software bus and an Ethernet (registered trademark) local area sub-network 14 that supports a Jini (TM) software bus. A local area network 10 is provided.

  The recorder 16 is connected to the IEEE 1394 subnetwork. The digital multimedia terminal (set top box) 18 is connected to the same IEEE 1394 network. The set top box 18 is also connected to a parabolic antenna for receiving digital television broadcasts and a television 20.

  A personal computer 24 associated with the digital camera 26 is connected to the Ethernet subnetworks 14 and includes means for exchanging information with the Jini ™ software bus to simulate a Jini ™ camera. . Therefore, the combination including the personal computer 24 and the digital camera 26 is hereinafter referred to as a Jini (trademark) digital camera 27.

  Finally, the access terminal 28 is connected to the local area network 10, that is, the Ethernet® local area subnetwork and the IEEE 1394 local area subnetwork.

  The access terminal 28 is further connected to an external information transmission network 30 such as the Internet. Traditionally, this connection is provided by an xDSL link 32.

  The application server 34 is also connected to the Internet 30. This application server holds a plurality of applications dedicated to the devices in the devices 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26 connected to the local area network 10 in particular. For example, these dedicated applications include applications that control each of the devices.

  In addition, these applications are designed by providers that are independent of the device manufacturer. In particular, these applications have a unified interface.

  The access terminal 28 can access the application server 34 via the Internet 30 in order to download a dedicated application to a device connected to the local area network 10. For this purpose, the access terminal 28 is connected to a database 36, which can have a direct local connection with the access terminal 28, as shown in FIG. To the access terminal 28.

  The database 36 includes, for example, a plurality of lists of applications dedicated to devices to be connected to the local area network 10 in the form of a corresponding table. Thus, for a Jini ™ digital camera 27 connected to the Ethernet ™ subnetwork 14 via a Jini ™ software bus, the database 36 includes a list of applications dedicated to the Jini ™ digital camera 27. It is out.

In practice, the database 36 includes the following for each device to be connected to the local area network 10, and thus for the Jini® digital camera 27:
A device reference, including information that allows the device to be clearly identified;
References to dedicated applications associated with the device, including applications that control the device; and
For example, the location of each application dedicated to the device, including the URL of the corresponding file in the application server 34.

  In the conventional manner, the access terminal 28 comprises means for managing a software bus running on the subnetwork to which it is connected. Accordingly, the access terminal 28 includes HAVi (registered trademark) software bus management means 38. The access terminal 28 also includes a management means 40 for the Jini ™ software bus. Management means 38 and 40 are configured to automatically detect device connections to the local area network 10. Similarly, management means 38 and 40 are configured to automatically detect device disconnection.

  Software bus management means 38 and 40 are connected to the interface 42 of the access terminal 28. This interface 42 materializes the division between the part of the access terminal 28 connected to the local area network 10 and the part of the access terminal 28 connected to the Internet 30.

  The part of the access terminal 28 connected to the Internet 30 comprises means 44 for downloading a dedicated application to a device connected to the local area network 10.

  The access terminal 28 further comprises means 46 for triggering application download or deletion.

  The triggering means 46 is connected to the interface 42 for receiving information regarding the connection of the device to the local area network 10 or the disconnection from the local area network 10. They are further directly or indirectly via the download means 44 and the Internet 30 to establish a correspondence between the device detected to be connected or disconnected and its corresponding list of dedicated applications. Connected to database 36. Finally, the trigger means 46 is when a new application dedicated to the device just connected to the local area network 10 has to be downloaded from the application server 34 if no new application already exists at the access terminal 28. , Connected to the download means 44 for calling the download means.

  The access terminal 28 further includes an access portal 48 for downloaded applications. The access portal 48 comprises a means for storing applications downloaded by the access terminal 28, or at least a link that provides access thereto.

  The access terminal 28 includes a man-machine interface 50 that takes the form of an HTML page. For example, the man-machine interface 50 takes the form of a symbolic representation of the local area network 10 and various devices to which it is connected. It is accessible via the television 20, which can display it on its screen.

  In order to allow a user to access a dedicated application on a device connected to the local area network 10, the access portal 48 comprises means 52 for incorporating the application downloaded by the means 44 into the man-machine interface 50.

  Therefore, when the user moves the cursor on the screen of the television 20 and places the cursor on the icon corresponding to the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27, the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27 is connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) subnetwork. If so, the control interface of the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27 is displayed on the screen. This control interface corresponds to a control application dedicated to the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27, and this control application is designed by an application provider and can be used on the application server 34.

  The application provider is also a provider of the man-machine interface 50. For example, the man-machine interface 50 that integrates a dedicated application into a device connected to the local area network 10 as a result is the device 16, 18, 20, 24. And 26 is a unified control interface.

  The successive steps of the application management method used in the above system for connecting or disconnecting a device to or from the local area network 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS.

  The method shown in FIG. 2 and executed when connecting a device to the local area network 10 includes a first step 60 of plugging into the device.

  In step 60, the user connects a device, for example a Jini ™ digital camera 27, to the local area network 10.

  In step 62, the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27 voluntarily declares itself to the Jini (trademark) software bus management means 40. In this step, the Jini (trademark) digital camera 27 transmits information that clearly identifies itself to the management means 40. This step constitutes automatic detection of plugging into the Jini ™ digital camera 27.

  Next, in step 64, the management means 40 sends the information to the means 46 for triggering information via the interface 42.

  In step 66, the trigger means 46 searches the database 36 for a list of applications dedicated to the Jini ™ digital camera 27.

  In a test step 68 that is repeated as necessary, the access terminal 28 verifies for each dedicated application from the list whether the application is already installed in the access portal 48. If installed, the next step is step 72 shown below. If it is not installed, the next step is a download step 70.

  In step 70, the download unit 44 connects to the application server 34 and downloads a corresponding dedicated application from the application server 34 using the URL supplied by the trigger unit 46.

  In the next step 72, the application is incorporated into the access portal 48.

  Finally, in step 74, the man machine interface 50 is updated.

  Once all the applications dedicated to the Jini ™ digital camera 27 have been downloaded and incorporated into the man-machine interface 50, the next step in the process is the final step 76, starting from this step, the system user can simply The Jini ™ digital camera 27 can be controlled and accessed from the user's television 20 via the unified man-machine interface 50.

  The method shown in FIG. 3 is used when disconnecting a device from the local area network 10 and includes a first step 78 for disconnecting the device.

  Following this first step 78, there are three steps, steps 80, 82 and 84, which are identical to steps 62, 64 and 66, respectively, of the previously described method.

  Step 84 is followed by a test step 86 during which time the access terminal 28 is still connected to the local area network 10 for each dedicated application in the list sent by the trigger means 46. To see if it offers to control other devices that are.

  If the dedicated application is no longer being used by another connected device, the next step is step 88 during which the access terminal 28 deinstalls the application.

  If a dedicated application is being used for another connected device after step 88 or after step 86, the next step is step 90, where the dedicated application is connected to the removed device on the television 20. During this step, the man-machine interface 50 is updated so that it is no longer displayed on the screen.

  If all applications dedicated to the removed device have been deinstalled or left to be used by other connected devices, the next step is the final step 92, during which In addition, the trigger means 46 is set to a standby state waiting for a new triggering event.

  Obviously, the application management system described above provides an easy and user-friendly way for a user to control devices connected to a local area network. This is because the man-machine interface 50 that the user can see on the screen of the television 20 provides unified access to control the connected devices. Thus, the user no longer needs to know how to use each device.

It is a figure which shows the general structure of the application management system of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating successive steps of an application management method in which the system of FIG. 1 is implemented. FIG. 2 shows successive steps of an application management method in which the system of FIG. 1 is implemented.

Claims (18)

A system for managing dedicated applications on devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) connected to a local area network (10), the system comprising:
Means (38, 40) for detecting the connection of the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) to the local area network;
An access terminal (28) connected to a local area network (10) and provided with means (44) for downloading the application from an application server (34), wherein at least one is connected via an external information transmission network (30) An access terminal (28) for accessing one application server (34),
The system triggers a downloading means (44) to download at least one application dedicated to the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) when the device is connected to a local area network (10). A system for managing an application, further comprising means (46).   2. The application management system according to claim 1, wherein at least one application dedicated to the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) is a control application for controlling the device.   The application management system comprises a single access portal (48) to different services provided by devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) connected to a local area network (10), said access portal ( 48. The application management system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for executing a dedicated application for each connected device.   The application management system according to claim 3, wherein the access portal (48) is accessible from at least one of the devices (20) connected to a local area network (10).   The access portal (48) includes a unified man-machine interface (5) for controlling connected devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) and the unified man-machine interface (50). 5. The application management system according to claim 2, further comprising means (52) for incorporating a control application into the application management system.   The application management system includes means (38, 40) for detecting disconnection of the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) from the local area network (10), and the device when the device is disconnected from the local area network. 6. The application management system according to claim 1, further comprising means (46) for triggering deletion of a dedicated application.   The application management system establishes a correspondence between each device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) to be connected to the local area network (10) and a list of applications dedicated to the device. 7. Application management system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises storage means (36) for storing information and accessible in read mode by an access terminal (28).   8. The application management system of claim 7, wherein the list of applications comprises, for each application, its universal resource locator, which application can be downloaded from the universal resource locator by the access terminal (28).   The application management system has at least one software bus running on the local area network (10) that connects and interconnects the devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) to the local area network (10). The application management system according to claim 1, further comprising: an application management system according to claim 1. An application management method dedicated to devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) connected to a local area network (10), said method comprising the step of detecting a connection of the device to the network (62) Prepared,
In the application management method, an application dedicated to a service provided by a device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) connected to the local area network (10) has not yet been downloaded to the access portal (48). Only when the device is connected to the local area network (10), an access terminal for accessing at least one application server (34) of at least one application dedicated to the device via the external information transmission network (30) The application management method further comprising the step (70) of triggering download according to (28), wherein the access portal (48) comprises means for executing a dedicated application on each connected device.   The application management method includes a test step (68) before the download step (70), during which the access terminal (28) checks whether a dedicated application is already installed in the access portal (48). The application management method according to claim 10.   At least one application dedicated to the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) is a control application that controls the device, and the application management method controls a device connected to the local area network (10) 12. The application management method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of incorporating (72) the control application into a unified man-machine interface (50).   The application management method includes a step (80) of detecting disconnection of the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) from the local area network (10), and when the device is disconnected from the local area network (10). 13. An application management method according to claim 10 or 12, further comprising a step (88) of triggering deletion of an application dedicated to the device by an access terminal (28). An access terminal (28) accessing at least one application server (34) via an external information transfer network (30),
The access terminal is connected to a local area network (10) configured to connect devices (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) and includes a download means (44) for downloading an application from an application server; The access terminal further comprises trigger means (46) for triggering download means (44) for downloading at least one application dedicated to the device when the device is connected to the local area network (10). Access terminal.   The access terminal has means (38, 40) means for detecting disconnection of the device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) from the local area network (10), and the device is disconnected from the local area network (10). 15. An access terminal according to claim 14, further comprising trigger means (46) for triggering deletion of a dedicated application on the device.   The access terminal accesses, in read mode, storage means (36) that stores information for establishing correspondence between each device to be connected to the local area network (10) and a list of dedicated applications for the device. Access terminal according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it comprises access means (46).   The application server (34) is connected to at least one device connected to the local area network (10) to which an access terminal (28) that accesses the application server (34) via the external information transmission network (30) is also connected. An application server comprising a dedicated application, the application being configured to be incorporated into a unified man-machine interface (50).   At least one application that provides a dedicated application to a device (20) that is connected to at least one other device (16, 18, 20, 24, 26) and a local area network (10) A device (20) configured to be connected to a local area network (10) to which an access terminal (28) for accessing a server (34) is also connected, the device being connected to the local area network Means for displaying a unified man-machine interface (50) including means for incorporating at least one application dedicated to the device (16, 18, 22, 24, 26) and said at least one A device characterized in that one application is a control application ( 0).

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